News

History provokes – today

Body/hand mapping, telling stories about an object, putting on different “glasses” on a theme, games and exercises from theatre work: During the 4-days workshop from 5-8 November 2018 in Lódz/Poland, actors from organisations in five European countries passed on their methods of education on historical topics to their colleagues. It was more than just joint experimentation, the themes such as the coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews in Andalusia, the Spanish Civil War 1936-38, the rich but also painful history of Lódz and other topics opened new horizons and were sometimes very touching.

NO GENDER GAP in Times of Digitisation

weltgewandt is the partner organisation of a European cooperation to promote the digital skills of women. The kick-off meeting of the coordinators took place from 29-31 October 2018 in Madrid. The face-to-face encounter enabled a productive exchange and opened further horizons of the project topic. More details about the 2-year collaboration are given in the project presentation.

European Conference on Civic and Citizenship Education in Marseille

The project head of weltgewandt. Institute for Intercultural Civic Education observed this year’s conference on Networking European Citizenship Education in Marseille. The subject was “Brave New Worlds?! The Future of Democracy and Citizenship Education”. Unfortunately, the conference was very weak regarding the analysis of social and political developments, and controversies were avoided. Self-reflection as educational actors in difficult times was also missing. This is not how the future of socio-political education should be. Fortunately, the three days offered didactical inspirations, allowed insights in funding opportunities and gave plenty of opportunity to get in touch with other educational actors in Europe and North Africa.

The Future of History

Meeting within the framework of the Connecting Memories project in Helsinki from 29th-31st August 2018 with partners from Finland, France, Poland, Spain and Berlin. We moved on working on our project’s results and exchanged on themes and taboos of public remembrance, e.g. the Franco dictatorship, the ‘wound’ of the German unification process and its socio-economic impacts, colonialism and migration in France and the Polish transformation during the 1990s. We asked : What is said in public, what neglected ? Do we talk about future if we take history into consideration ? A very fruitful, vibrant exchange at an inspiring place, the Helinä Rautavaaran Museum.

Update folder weltgewandt e.V.

Connecting Memories: Local event, 2nd July

The 3 ‘weltgewandt’ participants in the 5-days workshop in Marseille in May 2018 shared in a local event with colleagues and adult learners from Berlin how the European exchange helped enlarging their methodological skills. We discussed to adapt producing audio postcards in our city and in particular in Marzahn. Such a sound collection could include the almost regular S-Bahn voice “Dieser Zug entfällt heute.” (“This train is cancelled today.”) but also the melody of singing birds, the diction of Russian speaking ladies in a shopping mall or the symphony (cacophony?) of a public debate on democracy in Berlin. Let’s try it! See more on our project’s site.

History under Discussion

The project site of the European cooperation CONNECTING MEMORIES. The Power of the Past and the Future of Europe (Erasmus+) is online now. It will be updated with more contents during the whole project.

FUTURE 4.0: The Digitization of Economy and Society

During the ECOLIT project, partners developed teaching material on the subject of digitization. It contains an introduction to the history of industry 1.0-4.0, technological aspects (like artificial intelligence and algorithm, robotics, 3D printing), impacts on society, the political framing of the developments and the role of education. Moreover, the material provides exercises and games for trainers in adult education. More information on the European cooperation and the methods which partners exchanged are provided on the project’s website.

Connecting Memories: making history a lively experience

„I really got out of the comfort zone. It was comfortable.“ This was the feedback of one Finish participant referring to our learning and teaching activities in Marseille from 8th to 12th May 2018. Team members from weltgewandt e.V. met colleagues from organisations in Finland, Spain, Poland and France in Marseille exchanging on methods of historical-political education. The focus layed on different topics such as stories of migration, the German unification process 1989-1995 and propaganda during German fascism. We played free theatre and learned on how to make a documentary. Serious themes may be a subject of joy AND deeper reflection.

weltgewandt.polis on Facebook and Instagram

You may get information on our activities also on Facebook and Instagram. Feel free to “like” us.

Artificial Intelligence and Robots: Paradise Conditions at the Price of Submission?

During our project on Economic Literacy we also focus on the digitalisation of economy, often called „industry 4.0“ or „work 4.0“. Our public discussion event with colleagues from the partner’s countries on 16th February 2018 helped structuring a broad and complex theme. We discussed chances and challenges and the need of democracy to combine new opportunities with growing welfare for all. An inspiring exchange!

Economic Literacy live

Representatives of weltgewandt e.V. and the partner organisations in the Czech Republic, Estonia and the UK met each other in Berlin from 15th to 17th February 2018 and continued working on the project results. We create teaching material on digitisation in the workplace / work 4.0. Soon online!

Connecting Memories. The Power of the Past and the Future of Europe

Kick-off meeting in Berlin, 01/02-02/02/2018

weltgewandt. coordinates a European cooperation (Erasmus+) with partner organisations in Finland, France, Poland and Spain. We focus on the culture of remembrance and the politics of history in each partner’s country. The self-perception as a society’s citizen is often rooted in an interpretation of history, either consciously or unconsciously. Exchanging on different historical topics helps understanding ‚the other‘ and the debating culture in partner’s countries. That’s the aim of the project. Moreover, as adult educators we intend to inspire each other implementing new methods to reach so-called disadvantaged learners in historical-political education. We discuss issues beyond the nation state’s horizon and ask for a democratic future of Europe.
The first meeting was dedicated to the project’s planning. However, we also took time to discuss aspects of the public remembering of the Franco dictatorship in Spain and the current conflict in/of Catalonia. An enriching, encouraging experience!

Voluntary and Support Activities for Refugees in Greece

„Our main aim is to keep the humanity.“ This says the script writer and art director of the TOPOS ALLOU theatre in Athens, Nikos Kamtsis-Ekinotetis, in terms of challenges caused by the migration influx in 2015 and afterwards. Within the project Safer Places Hopeful Refugees (Erasmus+) could three participants from weltgewandt e.V. talk to him and to members of other organisations, e.g. the Melissa Women Immigrants‘ Network. Amazing, what educators/culture and social workers may achieve if they develop clever ideas, create sustainable networks in the neighborhood and beyond, and follow a strong will for change.

Happy Year 2018

The weltgewandt („open to the world“) Intercultural Political Education Institute wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2018 ! May the festive season bring you peace and joy. May you find the special light which dignifies all people and gives them the strength to change.

For 2018 we wish you inspiration, success and the necessary pinch of humor.

Economic Literacy – Training in Tartu/Estonia

Six participants from weltgewandt e.V. took part in a training about environmental economics and management skills for life from 7th to 11th November 2017. What’s the difference between private and public goods? What about the tragedy of the commons? And basicly, what is a market? Is is it a social construction? We enjoyed a fruitful time both in a healthy nature and at Tartu university.

Supporting Newcomers in Sweden

„Everything is so reasonable here.“ That’s the meaning of one of the staff member from weltgewandt e.V. who attended the transnational training in Sweden from 28/08 to 02/09/2017. It was hosted by our partner organisation IFALL – Integration för Alle and took place within the framework of our Erasmus+ project Safer Places Hopeful Refugees. Our exchanges focused on supporting newcomers to get involved in their new society and on how to build bridges to local citizens. Equality, both social equality and equality of chances is a strong value in our Northern neighbor country. And this has a positive economic impact: If the state and municipalities support the integration process actively, newcomers find easier a job, pay taxes, buy property and ‚pushes‘ therefore the economy. Social tensions can be avoided. Reasonable!

General Economic Education: Project Meeting in Prague, 23rd June 2017

The MARKET, what’s this? How to explain what people experience in everyday’s life? weltgewandt e.V. coordinates an Erasmus+ project on Economic Literacy. During our last transnational meeting with colleagues from Czech Republic, Estonia and the UK in Prague on 23rd June 2016 we discussed both the neo-classic interpretation of a market and the model of the Economics of Conventions developed by French economists. We started our exchange by working again on our project’s results. We then prepared the next learning/teaching/training activities by discussing carefully the draft programme. Our Czech partner run an exercise with all participants to give us already a taste of their planned sessions. As we aim to reach so-called disadvantaged learners through creative approaches, we also enjoyed games and exercises. Again, a fruitful meeting and in a tremendous city! Find more information on the project’s website.

Newsletter Safer Places Hopeful Refugee project

Our Italien partner created the first newsletter of our project funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme for Adult Education. See also as pdf file: Newsletter-SPHR.pdf.

Political Education with Newcomers, what’s this?

This was the theme of the 5-days workshop (13th to 17 June 2017) for trainers and teachers from Turkey, Greece, Italy, Austria and Sweden as part of our project Safer Places Hopeful Refugees (Erasmus +). We debated concepts of citizenship education and community learning. In exchange with newcomers from Syria, we learned how they perceive their new surroundings, what they like, what is missing, what their orientations are and what they want. When we visited the refugee’s residence managed by Hero Norge at Wittenberger Str. 16-18, we quickly came to the asylum procedure in Germany. Without a clear status there is nothing to be done related to integration. This is different in other countries. The director, Mr. Lindner, and the coordinator for volunteers, Mrs. Bergmeyer, also explained what need for support currently exists. A moving encounter took place when the group spoke to the coordinator from the Refugees Emancipation Women Space Marzahn. She came from Syria 2.5 years ago and spoke frankly and honestly about the shadows of the beginning: the cultural shock, the language barrier, the fears of going in the streets and under the Germans, the challenge when one feels resentment.
When exchanging training methods for empowerment, a wide range of participatory theater approaches were applied. Together we tested the statue, newspaper and forum theater developed by Augusto Boal on the issues integration and discrimination. The workshop ended in a sociodrama session on European asylum policy with a European Commissioner, Wolfgang Schäuble, Viktor Orban, Alexis Tsipras, Marine le Pen, an angry taxpayer, a newcomer from Afghanistan and freelancers of a citizen’s radio in Madrid. It has clearly shown the conflicts and made them better understand. And when ’sunny‘ Southerrn Italians come together with ‚Northern‘ seriousness and a professional clown plays the pope, it is nevertheless very funny!

Economic Literacy: Exchange of Good Practises

Making economic issues understood, train the trainer in terms of knowledge and didactical skills, that’s the aim of the Economic Literacy project of weltgewandtwith partners in Estonia, Czech Republic and the UK. During our last workshop in London we focused on money and work. Wihin five intensive days we discussed aspects of the labour market as well as of industry and work 4.0. We had exchanges on what could be a definition of money, on its history and the low interest rate policy of a central bank. The learning from each other’s methods included short movie’s production and free theatre work inspired by Augusto Boal. We ended up in the money room of the British museum. Free entrance! For more information see the project’s website.

Happy Year 2017

The weltgewandt.(„open to the world“) Instiute for Intercultural Political Education wishes you peace and joy in 2017! May the year bring inspirations, encouragement, success and ideas to solve problems in a creative way. Change can be made by all and both locally as well as globally.

ECOLIT – Creative Approaches to Economic Literacy

weltgewandt.invited representatives from the partner organisations in Prague, Tartu and London to hold the kick-off meeting in Berlin.
We got to know each other personally and planed the project activities and its results. Moreover, the group experienced playful ways of approaching to economic issues. We also discussed theses referring to the current euro zone problems. The questions and considerations raised by the participants reflected perspectives against the background of the public debates in each partner’s society. We agreed that European challenges need to be analysed in a European, transnational dimension.

European cooperation to promote intergenerational and intercultural exchange in non-formal and formal contexts

Contact seminar, Palermo, October 2016

The Italian national agency INDIRE (Erasmus+) invited educators from all over Europe taking part in a contact seminar. 40 participants from 16 countries took the opportunity to learn from each partner’s methodological approaches, the educational context as well as chances and challenges regarding intercultural and intergenerational dialogue. We developed projects together hoping to meet learner’s needs. A very useful, enriching experience!

Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership

Mind-opening to Economy. Creative Approaches to Economic Literacy

What’s this, inflation? What’s going on in Europe, inflation or deflation? How to explain the problems of the Euro project? What about the economic and social consequences of the „Brexit“ in all over Europe? How to solve a banking crisis? Which role plays a Central Bank in an economy; which role should it play? What are the reasons for the growing gap between rich and poor? What concepts of „green economy“ exist?

Economic thinking is more and more present in daily lives, politics and global developments. However, there is a lack of understanding the ‚big picture‘ of a market economy and the role that citizens play in. This meets a widely spread feeling of uncertainty. As people normally refer to interpretations in public discourse, there is a threat of getting attracted by nationalist perspectives on social phenomenons. But democracy needs education, socio-economic education too.

This project brings 4 organisations from East, West and Central Europe together to exchange good practises in economic learning by combining a) creative approaches of civic education, b) economic issues such as labour market and employability, money, management skills for life, environmental economics, consumer behaviour and c) a European perspective on recent macro-economic developments. In order to allow a democratic learning, partners seek to reflect these questions in a multi-perspective way taking different economic “schools” into consideration.

As project’s result, the consortium produces teaching material to be applied in adult and citizenship education.